BISHKEK -- Seven Kyrgyz Muslims died this year while making the hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Murataaly-Hajji Jumanov, the chief mufti of the Kyrgyz Spiritual Directorate, said in Bishkek today that a total of 4,782 Kyrgyz visited the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the hajj that was held this year from November 25-29.
He said flights to Mecca were made by several air companies based in Kyrgyzstan.
The final group of Kyrgyz pilgrims returned from Mecca on December 20.